you're not really grasping and pulling up either side of the v. you're putting the hook through the entire v and then pulling the other yarn through it. and yeah, it should be the whole v, not the little bump on the back. it actually took me forever to figure that out. for the first row, i always just do one of the loops on the v because even though the diagrams make it seem like it's possible to put the hook under both loops in the chain, it seems impossible to me!

Does that make sense?

Yep, that made perfect sense when I looked at the project again and made the stitches. Thanks! I think I was confusing the bump on the back or a part of a different stitch as being part of the V and it threw me off.

I totally did that when I was starting to learn.

My friend who (re)taught me to crochet told me it didn't matter and I could do either! I cry foul!

You know that moment when crochet patterns finally stop looking like a foreign language? Yeah, that finally happened for me.Still in the practicing stitches stage. I picked up "The Happy Hooker"- AMAZING resource- and have been watching youtube vids. My first project is going to be catnip fortunate cookies- free pattern on Lion Brand website. http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80062AD.htmlI'm a little overwhelmed by crocheting rounds, but practice makes perfect.

You know that moment when crochet patterns finally stop looking like a foreign language? Yeah, that finally happened for me.Still in the practicing stitches stage. I picked up "The Happy Hooker"- AMAZING resource- and have been watching youtube vids. My first project is going to be catnip fortunate cookies- free pattern on Lion Brand website. http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80062AD.htmlI'm a little overwhelmed by crocheting rounds, but practice makes perfect.

Rounds aren't bad once you get used to them! I actually learned in rounds. Just keep a stitch marker (safety pin or bent paper clip works!) on hand so you know when you get to the end of a round.

_________________I am not a troll. I am TELLING YOU THE ******GOD'S TRUTH****** AND YOU JUST DON'T WANT THE HEAR IT DO YOU?

I did it! I crocheted my first project. I chose a cat bed pattern that I purchased from etsy.Big thanks to choirqueer and deearess for helping me with some questions I had!The pattern said after crocheting I could fold it into four different bed shapes but none of them worked, so it's just sort of a... bowl.. thing. Oh well! Still proud of it.

I did it! I crocheted my first project. I chose a cat bed pattern that I purchased from etsy.Big thanks to choirqueer and deearess for helping me with some questions I had!The pattern said after crocheting I could fold it into four different bed shapes but none of them worked, so it's just sort of a... bowl.. thing. Oh well! Still proud of it.

A couple of my friends are getting married and their tastes border a little more on the minimalist/modern. What do you think of this pattern if I do it in black/greys/ivory/dark red? (Those are the colors of all the stuff on their registry)

ETA: also tempted to do a giraffe pattern in black/grey or grey/ivory. There's a long standing habit of the groom sending me stuff with giraffes.

Crocheting is awesome! My mom's a boss at it- she does huge afghans with a pattern that looks like mountains. I am less good at it and opt for a straight row. I'm working on an afghan for a queen-sized bed now (though, unfortunately, I meant for it to be a lap blanket).